Antec 900? Or Something Else?

[GamingDaemon]

Hi Everyone,

Wondering what a good case for air cooling an E3110 would be? I also plan on having a RAID 0 across 2 raptors with a back up drive, for a total of 3 hard drives. And of course, my eVGA 8800GTX video card.

I have enjoyed using the Enermax Chakra (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811124115), with its enormous 250mm side fan and plenty of room. But I have heard a lot of good things about the Antec 900 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=antec%2b900).

What bothers me about the Antec 900 though is that the power supply is on the bottom, creating two problems:

The heat from the power supply will rise across the video card and the processor.
The PSU is far away from the mobo meaning it might be hard to make all of the proper power connections.


I welcome anyone's personal experience with the Antec 900, or info on another case that would satisfy my criteria for under $120.

Thanks!

[mpilchfamily]

PSU at the bottom will not pose any heat issues. Cable length is not much of a worry either. Most good PSUs have cables that are more then long enough since bottom mounted PSUs are almost standard now.

Now the 900 is a nice case. I enjoy mine, but there are some issues with it. The HDD are a pain to get installed into the drive bays. Also there are a tun of screws you have to deal with.

I would go with a case like the Coolermaster CM690. Its a great case with as much airflow if not more then the 900. Not to mention its much less then the 900 and offers more features such as screw less PCI slots and drive bays. But it comes with all the screw you need if you would rather not use the clips. Also the HDD trays are great. There is allot you can do with the case. Just check out the CM 690 thread.

[Monkey101]

The CM690 is a nice choice. Has alot of room inside for its size (I plan on getting one soon).

I currently have the CM Stacker 830 EVO and although its a great case with lots of fans it is kind of a bugger to move to LAN's.

If your case wont be moving anywhere and you have the extra cash (where i am its a bit more expensive than the 900) i would say the Stacker 830 EVO is a good choice. Otherwise get the 690. (And yes i do love coolermaster cases :D )

[Tulatin]

+1 for the 690, which can be had for $35 refurb, I think.

It has 3x120mm exhaust around the CPU area, PSU at the base, cable management grooves, cooling for your 3 HDDs, and the damn thing will take a GTX like a champ. Did I mention I have have/love this case? There's only two issues.

One is the aesthetic buggerance - the chrome strips that go to the top of the case don't line up with the ones off the bezel.

Two is that while there's a 140mm clip in dust filter on the base, there's NOTHING for your PSU, so if you have a 120mm unit with the fan facing downward, expect it to suck up dust. If you have a longer unit, expect to have it inhaling the case's heated air.

[cabbspapp]

$35 refurb? Where?

[GamingDaemon]

Hmm sounds like the CM690 is the choice, even with a few small negatives. What do people think of the CM 590 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152) ?

[mpilchfamily]

Just as good. Its like they took the good of the Antec 900 and combined it with the 690. To me you get the best of both cases in one.

[malkiewicz]

The Lain-li v1200 has no negatives... I love it... Only one problem its over $120, but you only live once... and whats another 50-60 bucks...

I still have my old Antec 900... I love and hate it at the same time... It's a pain in the A$$ to work with, but once you get it the way you want it's great... Good case if your dont change things out often... Just a thought...

[GamingDaemon]

Well, I went down to Fry's to look at the cases in person and after looking through about 50 cases on display, I am even more confused than before. I like the Cooloer Master 590 and 690, but I also like the Antec P180 a lot too.

Then to make matters worse, I bought some case fans for my wife's PC. She has the Enermax Chakra too. The time it took to get the case fans out and put the new ones in was ridiculous. It was way too hard. Surely the Cooler Master and Antec cases are easier to replace fans after having built the rig?

Can anyone comment on which cases are easier to use, Antec or Cooler Master? :confused:

[Emerica]

I agree the P180 is really nice. If it were me I would go with the cheaper one which is the CM690.

[GamingDaemon]

I agree the P180 is really nice. If it were me I would go with the cheaper one which is the CM690.

I really like the way you can remove the 3.5" drive bays with that key ring....very cool!!! :clap:

But the CM 690 has the drives face outward, perpendicular to the case which I prefer. Decisions, decisions, decisions.... :)

How easy is it to remove the hard drive cages in the Antec 900?

[Linchpin]

How easy is it to remove the hard drive cages in the Antec 900?

Very easy, you just unscrew 4 thumbscrews on each side of the case and slide the module out. I'm very happy with my 900, the airflow is great and I prefer to rather fiddle with some screws and know that it's solidly secured than have to deal with all the :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty plastic clips which most of the time aren't as secure.

[[XC] NetburstXE]

$35 refurb? Where?

Here (http://cmusashop.coolermaster-usa.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=58&osCsid=0ea22c1adbfd9d37c5accbb339176bc6)

[Emerica]

Here (http://cmusashop.coolermaster-usa.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=58&osCsid=0ea22c1adbfd9d37c5accbb339176bc6)

That is an awesome deal, I am just trying to see how much it will cost to ship.

[[XC] NetburstXE]

That is an awesome deal, I am just trying to see how much it will cost to ship.

I think $26 :down:

[karl_eller]

I second either the CM 690 or the Centurion 590. Both cases are fairly much identical, except the Cent 590 lacks the bottom intake fan (no real biggy :p:), doesn't have a top plastic bezel (this is neither a pro or a con, IMO. The top is still very nice looking), and has 9 5.25" drive bays and uses 3-to-4 modules for HDDs (comes with one standard). For HDDs, as standard the CM690 probably comes out a shade on top, since it can take 5 HDDs out of the box, and the plastic/rubber brackets that the HDDs get attached to eat vibrations like nobody's business. I can't hear my HDDs at all in a CM690, where I could hear the exact same drives in my old TT Soprano case.

I've got a CM690, and I love it to bits. Looks nice, is dirt cheap, keeps everything nice and cool.

Eller

[GamingDaemon]

Well, I went down to my local Fry's and picked up an Antec 900 for $99 plus tax. Once I get the other parts, I will let you know how easy/hard it was to build with it. :)

[axis]

Well, I went down to my local Fry's and picked up an Antec 900 for $99 plus tax. Once I get the other parts, I will let you know how easy/hard it was to build with it. :)

Please do tell us how you do with it but there are TONS of reviews that already say how :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty it is to work with.

Axis

[GamingDaemon]

Please do tell us how you do with it but there are TONS of reviews that already say how :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty it is to work with.

Axis

Well, we'll see. I spoke with some fellow geeks in the Fry's who had built with the 900 and the P182, and it was really helpful to have them show me on the open cases the problems they encountered. In the end, the 900 got consistent approval from everyone that happened to pass by...